Indians pulling out all stops in courtship of free-agent Swisher

The Indians called upon a proven recruiter to land free agent outfielder Nick Swisher.

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was among a group who had lunch on Tuesday at Progressive Field with Swisher, who is considering a multiyear contract offer from the Indians. Swisher would immediately fill a hole in right field for Cleveland, which traded Shin-Soo Choo to Cincinnati last week and has been trying to improve a team that collapsed in August and finished 68-94.

The 32-year-old Swisher, who spent the past four seasons with the New York Yankees, arrived in Cleveland on Tuesday night and went to dinner with new manager Terry Francona, team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Chris Antonetti. Last week, Antonetti said he intended to add a “corner” outfielder.

He and his wife, actress JoAnna Garcia, who is expecting the couple’s first child in May, arrived at Progressive Field at 10:15 a.m. and toured the club’s family room. They were shown a suite and the team’s clubhouse before the Indians tugged at Swisher’s Ohio State connections to convince him Cleveland should be his next baseball home. Swisher played baseball for the Buckeyes.